High vacuum gate valve

Abstract

Gate valve having a closure member mounted on a swinging arm pivotally mounted for movement transversely of the axis of the valve openings. A wedge member carried by the arm drives the closure member in a direction parallel to the axis of the openings when moved longitudinally of the arm. An actuator pivots a cam which bears against the wedge member to swing the arm to a predetermined position in which the closure member is aligned with the openings and thereafter to move the cam to drive the closure member axially and seal one of the openings. Resilient members urge the closure member toward its retracted position and prevent the wedge member from moving forward until the arm reaches the predetermined position.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for valving comprising a valve member having a circular sealing surface, a sealing ridge extending outwardly from the said surface, a pair of protecting ridges extending outwardly from said surface, the sealing ridge being positioned between said protective ridges, and said sealing ridge being radially inward of a plane across said pair of protecting ridges. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus for valving as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve member is in the form of a conical disc forming said sealing surface on its periphery, and further comprising a valve body forming a circular valve seat having a portion engageable by said disc when said disc is moved to closing position and said seat having another portion engageable by said sealing ridge, and means for moving said disc into engagement within said seat. 
     
     
       3. In a valve assembly: a valve body having inlet and outlet openings, a valve seat surrounding one of the openings and having a bottom wall and a side wall, said side wall having a generally cylindrical portion forming a sealing surface, a radially expandable valve member having a peripheral sealing ridge and a protective ridge adjacent to the sealing ridge, means for urging the valve member into the seat whereby the side of the protective ridge abuts against the bottom wall of the seat and the sealing ridge is urged into sealing abutment with said sealing surface of the side wall, and said side wall having a recess between said sealing surface and said bottom wall to accommodate radially outward movement of said protective ridge. 
     
     
       4. The valve assembly of claim 3 wherein the protective ridge is of substantially the same diameter as the sealing ridge when the valve member is in its unexpanded condition. 
     
     
       5. The valve assembly of claim 3 wherein the valve member includes a second protective ridge disposed on the opposite side of the sealing ridge from the first named protective ridge. 
     
     
       6. The valve assembly of claim 3 wherein a layer of gold is provided on the sealing ridge. 
     
     
       7. In valving apparatus: a non-planar one-piece disc-like valve member adapted for expansion in a radial direction when flexed in an axial direction, a radially extending sealing ridge at the periphery of the valve member, and a protective ridge axially adjacent to the sealing ridge at the periphery of the member. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7 further including a second protective ridge adjacent to the sealing ridge, the sealing ridge being positioned between the protective ridges. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the protective ridge is of greater diameter than the sealing ridge. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a layer of soft metal is provided on the sealing ridge. 
     
     
       11. In an apparatus for forming a releasable seal, first sealing means forming a circular sealing wall and an annular abutment wall, second sealing means adapted for engagement with said first sealing means, said second sealing means having at least a partially conical shape adapted for flexing when compressed axially, said second sealing means having a sealing rim with a compression surface adapted to engage said abutment wall and a circular sealing ridge adapted to engage said circular sealing wall, said sealing rim having a circular recess between said compression surface and said sealing ridge, a protective ridge on said sealing rim and located on the side of said sealing ridge opposite from said recess, means for releasably forcing said first and second sealing means together; and said protective ridge being arranged so that when said compression surface and sealing ridge engage their respective portions of said first sealing means, said protective ridge is spaced from said first sealing means.